The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1887-09-22

Mr.. EIliort had eaten bis supper, and
as it was yet early in the evening, he
thoug ht he would 60 out and get cigar
"Iwon't be away no more than an hour"
he said to his wife. "Pll run into the
barber's and have my hair cut trife, and
be back before you can say Jack Robin
son."
Mrs. Elliort did not want to say Jack
Robinson; she preferred Jack Elliort.
"Don't go off somewhere with those
horrid boys" she said with pout. 81
shall expect you home at precisely; no
respectable and well-behaved married
man.
But Mr.. EIliort had snatched kiss and
the sentence never was finished.
The honr soon passed.
The girl had finished her work and
gone out. Mrs. Elliort was alone, but she
did not mind it, as she now expected her
husband every moment.
The clock struck 8.
Mrs. Elliort was startled by a ring at
the front door.
Then she remembered that Mr.. Elliort
had said he would ring, as his latch-key
was in his other coat.
SO she hurried to the door expecting to
see her handsome husband-Mr. Elliort
was sort of Adonis with brown curling
hair, hazel eyes, white teeth and a love
ly moustache, parted in the middle and
curled at both ends, while q generous
beard fell in luxuriant waves over bis shirt
front.
Hoping to see this vision of manly beau
ty, Mrs. Eli rt ope ned the door, and after
one lOok-saw that she had admitted
stranger.
For the man-it was a man-stepped
into the hall, and only that she barred
the way would have gone into the par
lor.
"Sir! !" she demanded in tones that she
tried to make stern and steady, what
means this intruson!"
" | came to beg Of you"
81 have nothing to give you.'
=" That diamond ring I"
Oh, heavens! 1t was her engagement
solitaire.
She looked at the wretch while all the
thoughts of lifetime crowded into that
brief moment, with this idea the most
prominent:
Chow shall identify him if he does
not murder me ?"
Then she began taking notes while she
temporized with him.
" | shall not part with this ring while |
have life. One word-(the wretch has q
dimpled chin) would bring my husband,
who has a sevenshooter ready cooked
(shaved skull, looks like convict) and
you would at once be given over the author
tiles the wretch has recently shaved,
traces of a mustache). If you will 60 at
once | will make no outcry (what fen
dish expression) and do not want nv
husbands hands imbrued in your blood
(the wretch actually grinned) and you
will never, meyer, never posses yourself
of my diamond ring. (Oh, heavens why
doesn't Jack come!'')
"Madam," said the wretch, i can not
loiter. My pals are waiting for me around
the corner. Give up the ring without
more ado"
"Never, base wretch take that, and
that, aud that" and she laid on blows
fast and furious, with an umbrella which
she had secured by backward motion of
the hand.
"Jenny," said calm voice as the um-
brella was coolly taken out of her hand
by the turn of an athletic wrist, I" are you
going to give me that ring ?"
"Jack, k,"-are you that wretch P" and
Mrs. Eliort dropped on the lowest stair,
as limp as rag doll. "What on earth
have you been doing to yourslf?"
"Getting my hair cut and my spring
shave on. Perhaps you don't like it
W-w-h-ere's your mustache ?''
cat the barber's."
"You look just like murderer, or-or-
burglar!'' cried Jenny, who discrimina-
ted in the profession, 81 took you for
-
"Lawer, doctor, beggarman, thief, as we
used to say when we were children. Well,
they said my best friend wouldn't know
me-" laughed her husband.
eco me in" said Mrs. Elliort reluc-
family. "Isuppose must give you house
room, but if ever there was bare-faced
swindler you are one, Jack" k."-Detroit
Free Press.